William houghtaling



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM HOUGHTALING, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THEASHCROFT MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACEJ STEAM-ENGINE INDICATOR.

srEoIFIcA'rIoIv forming part of Letters Patent No. 532,044, dated April2-3, 1895.

Application filed May 26, 1 8 94.

T0 ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HOUGHTA- LING, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSteam-Engine Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to indicators for steam-engines, and theimprovements consist in certain features of construction and arrangementhereinafter described and claimed, whereby better results are attainedthan have been secured heretofore.

Figure 1 represents the improved indicator partially in side view andpartially in vertical section. Fig. 2 shows, on a larger scale,

a vertical section of the steam cylinder and its casing, with theinterior part-s combined. Fig. 3 represents a horizontal section of thesame, on line X-X of Fig. 2.

In the main, the instrument consists of a diagram-barrel, A, which isarranged to be rotated by a cord, a, that is intended to be secured atits outer end to the cross head of the piston-rod of the engine; atubular casing, B, integral throughout its length within which a steamcylinder, B, is mounted; a piston, C, within said cylinder, and apencilarm, D, which is pivoted by a link, d, to a revoluble disk, I),and by a link d, to the upper end of the piston-rod, E. The pencilarm isadapted to be swung to and from the diagram-barrel, and in order thatthis may be conveniently done, a handle, I), is attached to the guide,0, which projects upwardly from the disk, I). The pencil-arm is providedwith a projecting pin, which enters a curved slot in the guide, 0, (asshown by dotted lines in Fig. 1,) whereby the movements of the arm aredirected in a well-understood way. Springs, F, surround the piston-rod,and bear at their lower ends upon the piston, and at their upper endsupon a screw-cap, G, which cap is provided with a central hole, g,through which the piston-rod passes, and by which the rod is guided,above the piston.

In the practical use of an indicator, constructed as thus far described,it has been found that the springs, when compressed by the action ofsteam on the piston, are liable Serial No. 512,507. (No model.)

to buckle, or bend laterally, and that such buckling forces the pistonout of axial align ment with the hole, g, thereby producing unduefriction between the piston and cylinder, in which it reciprocates, andaffecting the accuracy of the indicator, as well as causing excessivewear upon both piston and cylinder, to the detriment of the instrument.

To the avoidance of these undesirable results, the first feature of theinvention is directed, and the desired end is secured by furnishing thepiston with an extension, E, below the piston, and providing for suchextension a guide, H, through a central hole, 71, in which the saidextension passes. This guide is removably fitted tightly within thecylinder at the lower end of the latter, and is provided with holes, itthrough which the steam enters. It will be seen, therefore, that byextending the piston, or mounting the piston on the piston-rodintermediate of the length of the latter, and furnishing upper and lowerguides for the same, any buckling of the springs will not press thepiston to one side into closerengagement with the cylinder.

Steam -cylinders of indicators have been made, heretofore, in which whatI have called the casing, B, projected above the arm, I, on which thediagram barrel, A, is mounted,and such casing has formed the steamcylinder of the instrument, the cap, G, having been screwedinto the topof said casing. This form of construction has been objectionablebecause, when this casing became worn, the whole body of the instrumentmust be thrown away. To avoid this expense, some indicators have beenconstructed with a steam cylinder proper located within such a cappedcasing, the lower end of the cylinder alone having a bearing on thecasing, and its upper portion standing free therefrom. The diliicultywith this form of instrument has been that an ab solute alignment of theaxis of such cylinder with the axis of the hole in the cap, throughwhich the piston-rod passed, has not been certain of attainment, so thatthere has been undue friction upon the piston to the detriment of theaccuracy and lasting qualities of the device.

To attain this alignment, and yet have the cylinder removable, forms thesecond feature ICO of the invention, and this I accomplish as follows:The casing B is cut oft at or about the height of the arm, I; the bottomof the steam cylinder, 13, is threaded into the casin g B the cylinderis provided exteriorly with an annular enlargement or integral collar,J, which closely fits the opening, j, in the top of 'the casing; and thecap, G, is screwed into the top of the cylinder. An alignment of theaxes of the cylinder and cap-hole, g, is thereby secured, and yet thecylinder can be easily removed from the casing, and can be replaced,when worn, by another at comparatively small expense. The cylinder isfurnished with holes, 76, to allow the escape of such steam as passesthe piston, the said holes leading into an annular space, 70, betweenthe cylinder and the casing, which latter is provided with one or moreholes, 70 through which such steam passes out of the instrument. Thesprings, F, are secured at their upper ends to a ring, f, which isscrewed upon a hub, g, on the cap, G; and at their lower ends thesprings are secured to a ring, f, into which is screwed a hub,C, on thepiston O. The piston, therefore, is removable from the piston-rod, butthe former is clamped, when in working position, against a shoulder, c,on the latter by a nut, L, which is threaded upon the red, as shown inFig. 2. As the pencilarm, D, is arrangedto be swung to and from thebarrel, A, and, as said arm is connected to the piston-rod by the link,01', provision is made for such a connection of the link to the rod aswill enable the arm to be swung. This is secured by pivoting the link clto a plate, M, which is swiveled, or revolubly secured to the rod E by ascrew, m. As the nut, L, is threaded upon the rod, and the rod isswiveled to the plate, M, there is danger that the rod will be rotatedwith the nut when it is turned up to clamp the piston in place, or isoppositely turned so that the piston may be removed and a new spring beapplied. In order to avoid this result, the rod is provided with atransverse pin, N, which forms lateral projections thereon, and a pin,n, is set into the hub, O, of the piston, so that a partial rotation ofthe rod will bring said pins into contact and prevent any furtherturning of the same.

The improvements render the indicator more accurate and more lasting;and when the cylinder becomes worn it can be replaced at comparativelylittle expense.

WVhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In asteam-engine indicator, a steam-cylinder casing integralthroughout its length, a steam-cylinder removably secured at its lowerend within said casing and having an exterior hearing at the upper endof said casing, a piston fitted to reciprocate within said steam-cylinder, a pressure spring bearing upon the piston, a piston-rodsecured to the piston and extending on both sides thereof, and guidesfor the piston-rod attached to the respective ends of thesteam-cylinder, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with the pencil-arm, of the piston-rod connectedtherewith by a link pivoted to the arm and swiveled to the rod, thepiston mounted on therod, a nut threaded on the rod for clamping thepiston on the rod, lateral projections on the piston-rod, and a stoptherefor on the piston, whereby the retation of the rod is preventedwhen the nut is turned, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with the steamcylinder, of the piston mounted thereinand provided with an extension 011 its steam side, and guides for therod, the lower one of which is provided with steam inlets and securedtightly within the lower end of said cylinder, substantially as setforth.

XVILLIAM llOUGll'lALlNG.

Witnesses:

J. GRAY, S. DE VORKIN.

